automotiveMastermind Promotes Aaron Baldwin to CEO
NEW YORK, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- automotiveMastermind , the trusted data and technology provider in the automotive industry, has promoted Aaron Baldwin from chief product officer to CEO. Current CEO Matt Leone is leaving automotiveMastermind to pursue the next chapter in his career journey as a successful SaaS executive.
Baldwin joined automotiveMastermind in June of 2021 and has worked closely with product and technology colleagues to deliver innovative dealership marketing solutions that have leapfrogged the competition. He has overseen the product roadmap and strategy, as well as developed a high-performing team of leaders serving in product, integrations and analytics.
'It is exciting to announce the promotion of Aaron Baldwin to CEO of automotiveMastermind,' said Edouard Tavernier, president, S&P Global Mobility. 'Aaron has led the dynamic transformation of the Mastermind platform and marketing services. He has a commanding knowledge of both the automotive market and the digital marketing technology landscape, which has enabled Mastermind to consistently meet and exceed customer needs in a rapidly evolving technology environment. He has built an exceptional team that will continue to thrive as he steps into the CEO role.'
Baldwin has played an integral role in the company's executive leadership team, achieving tremendous progress – including strong year-over-year revenue growth over the last four years. Baldwin's focus on innovation has led to a rapid product expansion, which served dealership sales and marketing challenges.
'I am humbled by the opportunity to lead automotiveMastermind as CEO,' said Baldwin. 'These last few years at the company have been an incredible journey, and I want to thank Matt Leone for his leadership to put both myself and our employees in an incredible position. I am proud of the innovative solutions the product team has delivered to our dealer partners with collaboration from our technology and commercial colleagues. It is an honor to continue to serve this business as CEO, and I am committed to continuing the culture of innovation and excellence.'
Prior to joining automotiveMastermind, Baldwin held executive positions in both retail automotive and technology companies and was part of the founding management team of CarNow. This combined experience of 13 years in retail automotive and 12 years in SaaS companies gives him a unique view that will drive continued growth for automotiveMastermind.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Baldwin is a proud father who enjoys spending his free time with his wife and four children.
About automotiveMastermind
Founded in 2012, automotiveMastermind®, part of S&P Global Mobility, is the automotive industry's trusted data and technology provider, driving value through actionable intelligence and personalized experiences. The company's proprietary Mastermind solution uses the power of predictive analytics to enable retailers to connect with buyers and deliver an exceptional purchasing experience. Through a combination of behavioral predictive analytics, targeted marketing outreach and expert consulting, Mastermind empowers dealers and OEMs to deliver automotive retail sales by seamlessly blending data and intelligence with personalized insights. automotiveMastermind is headquartered in New York City. For more information, visit automotiveMastermind.com .
About S&P Global Mobility
S&P Global Mobility is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI). S&P Global is the world's foremost provider of credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets.
View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/automotivemastermind-promotes-aaron-baldwin-to-ceo-302446351.html
SOURCE automotiveMastermind
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New York Times
9 minutes ago
- New York Times
Bloomberg Gives $5 Million to Pro-Cuomo Super PAC as Primary Nears
Three days after endorsing Andrew M. Cuomo for mayor of New York City, Michael R. Bloomberg put his money where his mouth is. On Friday, Mr. Bloomberg, the billionaire former mayor, gave $5 million to Fix the City, a super PAC that is supporting Mr. Cuomo's bid for mayor, according to a person familiar with the donation. That brings the PAC's haul to roughly $20 million. Even before this donation, it was the biggest super PAC in New York City history. The new infusion of resources will amplify the PAC's ability to target Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist candidate now perceived as Mr. Cuomo's main target in the June 24 Democratic primary. Before Mr. Bloomberg's donation, the PAC had raised roughly $15 million, according to a spokeswoman, and spent about $9 million, much of it on advertising seeking to draw a contrast between a purportedly can-do Mr. Cuomo, 67, and Mr. Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblyman from Queens who is described in the ads as a 'risk.' The donations came the day after an apparently draft piece of PAC campaign literature was leaked to a reporter showing an altered photo of Mr. Mamdani that made his beard appear thicker and darker, next to language suggesting he was anti-Jewish. The PAC said it rejected the proposed literature and that it was never sent out. Mr. Mamdani, who is a Muslim, described the literature as Islamophobic. Mr. Bloomberg's donation will allow Mr. Cuomo's allies to flood the airwaves just as early voting begins on Saturday. Some of his rivals have super PACs, though none have raised anywhere close to even Mr. Bloomberg's individual contribution. New Yorkers for Lower Costs, a super PAC created to support Mr. Mamdani, has reported raising $400,000. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.


Forbes
15 minutes ago
- Forbes
5 Ways College Must Adapt To Prepare Students For 2025 And Beyond
Colleges need to better prepare graduates for the future According to Federal Student Aid, the average student loan debt reached $38,375 by the end of 2024, with the total U.S. student debt now totaling $1.8 trillion. Meanwhile, coding bootcamp graduates earn an average starting salary of $70,698, often surpassing entry-level salaries for traditional college graduates. This data reveals a fundamental disconnect: students are paying more for education that may not deliver proportional career returns. Research by USC professor Dave Kang, who has tracked Fortune 500 CEO educational backgrounds for 20 years, found that only 11.8% of Fortune 100 CEOs attended Ivy League schools as undergraduates. Seven to eight Fortune 500 CEOs had no undergraduate degree at all—more than graduated from any single college. The message is clear: prestigious degrees don't guarantee career success, but practical skills and adaptability do. Traditional higher education emphasizes theoretical knowledge over practical application. This approach fails to prepare students for a workforce that prioritizes demonstrated capabilities over academic credentials. According to Course Report, 69% of employers believe boot camp graduates are qualified for tech roles, and 80% would hire another boot camp graduate. This employer confidence stems from bootcamps' emphasis on hands-on projects and real-world applications. What colleges can do: Integrate project-based learning across every major - Partner with local businesses and nonprofits for real assignments - Create for-credit internships with measurable outcomes Real-world example: At Northeastern University, students complete up to three six-month cooperative education programs during their degree. These aren't traditional internships—students take full-time roles with measurable responsibilities and outcomes. How to implement: Business students could manage actual marketing budgets for local nonprofits. Engineering majors could solve real infrastructure problems in their communities. Liberal arts students could develop content strategies for emerging companies. The key difference is making these experiences count toward graduation requirements rather than treating them as optional additions. Artificial intelligence affects every industry, yet most college curricula treat it as a computer science elective. This creates a dangerous skills gap for graduates entering an AI-integrated workforce. Students need practical AI fluency regardless of their major. This means understanding how to work with large language models, recognizing AI-generated content, and knowing when human judgment remains essential. What colleges can do: Introduce basic AI literacy modules in general education requirements - Train faculty to integrate AI tools into assignments across disciplines -Offer electives on prompt engineering, AI ethics, and human-AI collaboration Real-world example: Some institutions are beginning this integration. The MIT Media Lab has developed an AI and Ethics curriculum that teaches students to think critically about algorithmic bias and the societal impact of AI. Universities can adopt similar approaches for undergraduate programs across disciplines. How to implement: A journalism course could challenge students to use AI for background research and then fact-check and verify the findings. An art history class might explore how AI image generation affects concepts of authorship and creativity. The goal isn't to turn every student into a programmer—it's to ensure graduates can work confidently with AI tools while maintaining critical thinking skills. Grade point averages tell employers little about real-world capabilities. Today's hiring managers want to see what candidates have built, written, or accomplished outside traditional coursework. Data shows that Amazon increased its bootcamp graduate hires from 1,077 in 2021-22 to 2,468 in 2024—a 129% growth. Companies like Google, Apple, JPMorgan Chase, and Accenture are actively hiring bootcamp-trained talent across multiple industries. What colleges can do: Encourage students to document and share their projects online - Offer academic credit for building personal brands, portfolios, or digital products - Shift from GPA-centric evaluations to include "proof of work" assessments Real-world example: Progressive art schools are leading this shift toward portfolio-based assessment. Many design programs now require students to maintain digital portfolios throughout their studies, documenting projects and creative development over time. How to implement: Economics students could publish data analysis projects on GitHub. Education majors could document innovative teaching methods through video case studies. Pre-med students could showcase community health initiatives they've designed and implemented. Employers and graduate schools increasingly want to see what applicants can demonstrate, not what they've memorized. The average professional changes careers seven times during their working life. Yet most college programs operate as if students will pursue single careers for decades. What colleges can do: Offer flexible degrees that span multiple fields (tech + ethics, business + design) - Normalize major changes and allow "exploration semesters" with dedicated advising - Replace outdated prerequisites with modular, skill-based learning tracks Real-world example: At Arizona State University, students can combine multiple fields through flexible concentrations—pairing computer science with psychology or business with environmental science. These interdisciplinary approaches better reflect how modern careers actually develop. How to implement: A student who starts as a biology major but discovers a passion for product design should transition seamlessly into a hybrid path without extending graduation by two years or losing credits. Colleges can offer stackable certificates, microcredentials, and project-based validation of knowledge to support career pivots. Students no longer need to wait until graduation to start building careers. The most successful young professionals often launch projects, businesses, or creative ventures while still in college and high school. Established companies like Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Amazon, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, and American Express all hire from coding bootcamps. These companies recognize that practical experience often matters more than traditional credentials. What colleges can do: Provide seed funding for student-led ventures and social impact ideas - Replace traditional advising with access to entrepreneurial mentors and alumni networks - Host demo days, pitch competitions, and startup accelerators on campus Real-world example: At Babson College, students can access seed funding for viable business ideas. The University of Pennsylvania offers mentorship programs that connect students with successful alumni entrepreneurs. How to implement: Every college can empower students to build something tangible during their studies. Offer dedicated workspace for student ventures, access to legal and accounting guidance, connections to local business networks, and academic credit for entrepreneurial projects—students who launch something meaningful during college graduate with proof of their capabilities rather than just academic promise. Coding bootcamp graduates see average salary increases of 50.5% or $23,724 after completing their programs. Seventy-one percent of coding bootcamp graduates find jobs within six months of graduation. These outcomes reflect programs designed around the needs of employers and student career success rather than traditional academic structures. Higher education doesn't need to be dismantled, but it must be redesigned. Students entering college in 2025 need institutions that prepare them for a world shaped by constant change, technological advancement, and entrepreneurial opportunity. The colleges that adapt first will attract the most motivated students and produce the most successful graduates. Those who resist change risk becoming increasingly irrelevant in a world where practical skills and demonstrated capabilities outweigh institutional prestige.

Associated Press
19 minutes ago
- Associated Press
AO Wins Top Honors at Gold Nugget Awards, Including Multifamily Community of the Year for The Row at Red Hill
ORANGE, Calif., June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AO, a leading full-service architecture and planning firm with design expertise spanning the entire commercial and multifamily residential real estate spectrum, was a multiple-award winner at the 62nd Annual PCBC Gold Nugget Awards ceremony held last night at The Westin Anaheim Resort. The firm's standout project, The Row at Red Hill Phase 1 in Santa Ana, CA, designed for developer Greystar, earned the evening's most prestigious honor—Multifamily Community of the Year—along with the Grand Award for Best Multifamily Housing Community (60–100 du/ac or more) marking a significant achievement for both AO and Greystar. AO accepted the award for The Row at Red Hill alongside Greystar, who noted the project is their largest residential development globally to date. The award was also dedicated to the memory of Ryan Yoshimoto, the project's lead designer, whose creative vision and deep commitment left an indelible mark. AO honored Ryan's legacy and the extraordinary contributions he made to both the project and the AO community. In total, AO earned 11 Merit Awards, with three projects receiving Grand Awards: The Row at Red Hill Phase 1 in Santa Ana, CA for developer Greystar won two awards for Best Multifamily Community of the Year and Best Multifamily Housing Community 60–100 du/ac or More. 401 Mission in Oceanside, CA for developer JH Real Estate Partners won Best On-the-Boards Mixed-Use Project. Bryson Legacy in Los Angeles, CA for developer The Richman Group won Best Affordable Housing Community 100 du/ac or More. 'It's truly an honor to be recognized alongside so many remarkable projects that represent the best in multifamily design,' said RC Alley, Managing Partner at AO. 'I'm incredibly proud of our team—an exceptional group of professionals who bring creativity, passion, and dedication to everything they do. And to our clients—thank you for trusting us with your vision and partnering with AO to bring these vibrant communities to life.' AO received 11 Awards of Merit, recognized as finalists in the following categories: Best Reimagined Retail Space Best Commercial Project Best On-the-Boards Multifamily Community Best On-the-Boards Affordable Housing Community Best Interior Design of A Multifamily Community – Common Space Best Affordable Housing Community 100 du/ac or More Best On-the-Boards Mixed-Use Project Best Multifamily Housing Community 60-100 du/ac or More Best Multifamily Community of the Year The Gold Nugget Awards, established in 1963, are the nation's oldest and most respected honors for excellence in architecture, planning, and construction. This year's program reviewed nearly 700 entries from around the world, showcasing the industry's most compelling work in design innovation and development trends. AO's award-winning projects reflect the firm's commitment to design excellence, collaboration, and creating impactful communities that stand the test of time. About AO AO is a relationship-focused, design-driven architectural, landscape, interior, and planning services firm helping clients create places where people and businesses flourish. In its 51st year, the firm boasts wide-ranging expertise across multifamily, retail, hospitality, mixed-use, science and technology, data centers, restaurant, healthcare, office, industrial, parking, landscape, interiors, and global design, modular, commercial, and public utilities. AO is known for its ardent collaboration with developers and owners and deep expertise across various building types. AO operates from studios in Orange, San Diego, Oakland, and Sunnyvale, CA, New York, NY, Atlanta, GA, and Orlando, FL, where it serves clients across the Americas, Asia, and beyond. Visit to learn more. MEDIA CONTACT IDEA HALL Andy Vernier [email protected] Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: